http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXhC7tZ95so
In this video, former Olympic Swimmer Markus Rogan, who is now a graduate student in Sport Psychology, describes the 6 elements of mental toughness. …Read More...

I was given a stark reminder recently that for any competitive swimmer, at any level, setbacks are a reality. Injury, illness and other uncontrollable factors mean that all of a sudden the event that you’ve been preparing for - the goals that you’ve set yourself, perhaps the opportunity to gain international honours or a National title for the first time – can be gone in a flash.
I remember the crushing disappointment myself, of not ‘making it’ to the European Juniors. I use those words …Read More...

What is the 10000 Hour Rule?
According to Anders Ericsson, it takes a minimum of 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become a genuine expert or, in the case of swimming, to become a world class swimmer. Can you break this rule?
Performers are made, not born
What the 10000 hour rule is really saying is that great performers are made and not born. There’s still plenty of debate about that, but when it comes down to it, this is the right message for swimmers, coaches and parents to take …Read More...

I was recently approached by a male senior swimmer ‘G’ who wanted help preparing for competition, because he was experiencing issues with anxiety and confidence, and losing time from starting the race feeling tense. The senior Nationals were around 6 weeks away and he wanted some help preparing for the event and races beyond.
Presenting Issues
It became apparent that there were a number of different phases during the run-up to the race that were presenting different challenges, with the effect …Read More...

My first attempt at an infographic. It's not a thing of beauty (just as well I'm a psychologist and not a graphic designer!) but hopefully gets the idea across.
Performance mindset is a choice
The performance mindset is a choice. Specifically, it is about choosing to focus on your own performance, valuing effort and determination, enjoying racing and continually learning. It's also about choosing not to let swimming determine your identity.
Performance mindset is built through good …Read More...

Swimmers are pretty well-known for being comfortable, perhaps too comfortable for some non-swimmers, with their bodies. Yet the pressure to keep improving performance, and perhaps the extent to which young swimmers’ bodies are on display, contribute to the risk of disordered eating. While the clinical eating disorders Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa gain much needed attention, swimmers can also experience problems due to what is known as Anorexia Athletica.
What is Anorexia …Read More...

Open up a debate about talent in just about any circles and it’s likely to be pretty lively. After posing the question on twitter recently, it’s clearly no different in swimming. Why does the question of talent spark such debate? What is it, and is it important for swimming coaches and sport scientists to understand? […]

If I had to name the single most important psychological factor in swimming performance, it would have to be confidence. Confidence is a motivator, but it is also a protector. It acts like a shield and helps you to overcome setbacks, doubt and anxiety. The good news is that confidence isn’t magical or elusive. It […]

Swimmers are pretty well-known for being comfortable, perhaps too comfortable for some non-swimmers, with their bodies. Yet the pressure to keep improving performance, and perhaps the extent to which young swimmers’ bodies are on display, contribute to the risk of disordered eating. While the clinical eating disorders Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa gain much needed […]